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Trinity Mirror digital publishing director David Higgerson has responded to criticisms which have been raised about the publisher’s decision to adopt a new commenting system across its titles that only allows those with Facebook accounts to contribute to online debates.

Most of the people who have complained, and this particularly so in the case of those commenting on Twitter, seem to come from a starting point that news websites should allow free-for-all comments on all stories, and that the ‘community’ can say what it likes under any name it likes. I don’t see it like that.

He added:

For each complaint we’ve seen so far, we’ve had many more remarks – in person, via email, in research – from people who say anonymous comments drag the site down.

Earlier this week I asked Higgerson on Twitter: “Can’t you find a way to let Facebook refuseniks have their say online on local issues too?”. He replied: “We can, but I question why so many people refuse to comment if they have to use their ‘real name’ what does that tell you.”